Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
The Samsung Q70 QLED looks functional rather than flashy, and while it retains the same basic styling as the rest of Samsung's 2019 QLED range, it also reflects the lower price point.
While the design is important, it’s nowhere near as crucial as performance. In the Q70A, Samsung has tried to create a TV that pleases all comers, whether they be movie buffs or next-gen gaming fanatics. So, does the Q70A, a TV that’s still within the realms of affordability for most people, really cover all the bases? Samsung Q70A: Key specifications To cap it all off, the design of this QE55Q70BATXXUQLED TV is second to none, with its super thin bezel and stunning looks. There is no Dolby Vision support and that may be an issue for a TV set in 2019, but it does support HDR10+ dynamic metadata and this is an impressive HDR experience compared to the static HDR10 approach. Watching Bohemian Rhapsody, which is HDR10+ on 4K Blu-ray, we found the approach to be far more nuanced and not as overly bright with some skin tones. Everything was more balanced with no obvious signs of the local dimming getting in the way, instead, we got the best possible image the Q70R is capable of, something dynamic metadata is designed to do. Since Bixby is actually built into the TV, rather than simply working with another device that includes a smart assistant, the experience is largely seamless. Bixby is best accessed by simply pressing the mic button on the remote. There is a near-field mic built into the TV but we’d recommend turning that off, unless you want Bixby springing into life every 10 minutes.
Performance
If you feel like boosting the audio on your Q70 then there are numerous soundbar options available, although the obvious choice would be the similarly monikered Samsung HW-Q70R. This model is styled to match the Q70 and includes a wireless subwoofer and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Moreover, the AI-enhanced image processing is equally as effective, helping to make heavily compressed and low resolution content look better and the local dimming is particularly impressive, especially given the limited number of zones available. Feed the TV a 4K signal, however, and the results are often excellent. The sound quality isn’t bad either, thanks once again to some sonic AI wizardry, and the 14ms input lag is sure to please gamers. Subtitle and audio description information spoken on the electronic programme guide more info panel
Max light output HDR (high dynamic range) while displaying a live scene and white square taking up 60% of the screen (measured in Nits) We often use Gravity as a test for local dimming, because the star fields and bright white space suits are a real challenge. In general the Q70 handle this difficult material well, with very little haloing, blooming or clipping. However there were a couple of occasions where the local dimming was caught out, although with the less challenging content that was rarely an issue. Max light output HDR (high dynamic range) while displaying small white square taking up 60% of the screen (measured in Nits) We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.Unlike the higher end QLED TVs for 2019, the Q70R doesn’t have the one connect box. This is obviously a cost-cutting measure and a shame as we really like the one connect approach with just one cable to the TV for power and sources. The Q70 also supports high dynamic range, specifically HDR10, broadcast HLG, and HDR10+. It can deliver 100% of the DCI-P3 wider colour gamut, and in testing it produced a peak brightness of 800 nits on a 10% window. We did quite a bit of comparison testing with the Q70R up against the Sony XG95, which is very close on features and price point, as well as some testing against a Philips OLED+903 OLED. The AI-enhanced image processing benefits from machine learning that makes full use of all the pixels in the 4K panel when upscaling lower-resolution content. The noise reduction and sharpening is also expertly applied, to ensure compressed material looks as good as possible. As a result, a good-quality source often looks 4K even when it isn’t.
Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, Samsung forgot to bring the bass, which is an essential part of any self-respecting home cinema. Obviously, this bass deficiency can be easily rectified with the addition of a soundbar – something Samsung has more than pre-empted with its 2021 Q-series and A-series soundbar range. Gaming is also a highlight here. Boasting an excellent input lag of 13.7ms and the new gamma shift tool, along with most of the HDMI 2.1 features of VRR, ALLM and auto game switching, even though the Q70R is an HDMI 2.0b TV, it is certainly a set gamers should really pay attention to. Samsung has tried to boost the sound quality of its TVs this year through the application of some machine learning. The result is the AI-enhanced Intelligent Sound mode that analyses the audio based on the environment and content, and the optimises it accordingly. As a result the sound has more width and depth, creating an acoustic experience that is more defined and immersive.This is not a perfect result out of the box and we would like to see a more accurate performance from Samsung. However, for the vast majority of viewers, this is still the most accurate image quality out of the box compared to Standard and other modes. Max light output HDR (high dynamic range) while displaying a live scene and white square taking up 10% of the screen (measured in Nits) HDR10 and HLG are nice to have, but it’s the HDR10+ support that’s most important. This HDR format enhances images by fine-tuning the brightness in each and every scene to eke out the smallest details that might otherwise be lost to dark shadows or specular highlights. And if your Q70A resides in a room with variable ambient light (as most will), the TV’s adaptive brightness can automatically adjust contrast and brightness to suit the environment, keeping your 4K HDR movies looking impactful. Subtitles and audio description information displayed on electronic programme guide more info panel
Great Deal 
New Comment